Dame Esther Rantzen confirms That's Life! reboot

Who remembers That’s Life? The TV series, which aired throughout the 70s and 80s was presented by Esther Rantzen and explored hard hitting investigations with light-hearted humour. That's Life! attracted more than 18 million viewers at its peak, and the show led to Esther setting up charity ChildLine, which promotes child protection, in 1986. And although the series ended in 1994, it has now been confirmed that the programme will be making a return.

The exciting news was confirmed by Dame Esther Rantzen who told the Daily Mirror newspaper that the show would be returning to screens next year. The 78-year-old presenter hosted the BBC One satirical consumer investigation series throughout it’s whole run and revealed that it would be returning.

"A friend of mine is having a go. We will see. 'That's Life!' was a very particular programme which lasted for 21 years.

"It talked about injustices, washing machines that broke and showed you a talking dog at its funniest."

She also opened up about the axing of the show in 1994 and claimed it could have been handled better by the BBC’s former Creative Director, Alan Yentob.

She said: "What I would have done, Mr Yentob, is said: 'OK, you have had a 21-year run. You are beginning to tell the same stories. So maybe let's give you a year off, let's find another presenter. Another three presenters. Let's use Esther as a consultant.'

"What I would have done was refresh it cosmetically but keep that content. So maybe that is what is going to happen in January."

Esther feels now is the perfect time to bring back the show.

She said: "I think there is a need for the programme. I definitely do."

Speaking back in July when the show was first rumored to be making a return, she said: "I think it would be lovely to have it back.

"I think we need it back. There are so many scams around that are still driving people nuts. And there are so many ridiculous rules."